JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – At least five people were killed of gushing hot lava from an erupting Rokatenda volcano in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province Saturday (August 10).
According to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the hot lava hit Woje Wubi to Cua beach in Palue Island Saturday. “Five people were killed from the hot ash, three of them have been evacuated, while two others are still missing,” Sutopo is quoted by Tempo.co.
Thousands of people, according to BNPB, have been evacuated from the island inhabited by at least 10,000 people since the first eruption in October 2012.
Saturday’s eruption shot smoke and ash up to 2,000 meters into the air. “The eruption was significantly more powerful than earlier ones,” Sutopo said.